New Houses Designs

We have 9 pages of new houses selections with links to a large number of individual project pages. Modern Houses, ie from the 20th century in the International Style, are located on a further page. We also list residences by country – see the links at the base of the page.

These pages carry residential projects designed in a contemporary style – houses typically with open-plan spaces and non-traditional forms, materials and organisation.

Residential designs featured are either of top quality or interesting or ideally both. We cover completed homes, new home designs and house competitions across the globe. The focus is on contemporary residences but information on traditional houses is also welcome.

Latest Residential Designs

Villa Escarpa, Algarve, Portugal – 10 Oct 2013Design: Mario Martinsphoto : Fernando Guerra [FG+SG]
This beautiful new residence is located near the village of Praia da Luz, in the district of Lagos. A condition of the planning permission was that the new house be built in the same space once occupied by another building. It was located in an superb position on a ridge overlooking the Algarve coastline.

Brown Vujcich House, Herne Bay, Auckland, North Island – 2 Oct 2013Design: Bossley Architectsphoto : Patrick Reynolds
This is an elegant contemporary residence located close to the waterfront. The lower level opens out to the surrounding space, with a terrace and outdoor area for each room. A terrace and pool are accessed from the family living space. A deck offers views of the harbour.

House IV, Eindhoven, HollandDesign: De Bever Architectenphoto : Norbert van OnnaContemporary House in Netherlands – 26 Sep 2013
The house is situated on a corner lot in the typical 30’s district ‘de Elzent’ against the natural landscape of the river Dommel valley, in the center of Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The existing main house is relatively small in structure, however the lot size is sufficient enough to resist an carefully threaded extension. An extension where extra comfort is added to the existing house.

Summerhouse Lagnö, Sweden – 25 Sep 2013Tham & Videgård Arkitekterphoto : Åke E’son Lindman
The setting is the Stockholm archipelago, natural ground sloping gently down to the sea in the south, mostly open with a few trees and bushes. Unlike other projects we worked on located on more isolated islands in the archipelago without car access from the mainland, this site was relatively easy to reach also with heavy transports.

Caterpillar House, Chile – 23 Sep 2013Design: Sebastián Irarrázaval Delpiano ; Associated Architect: Erick Carophoto : Sergio Pirrone
Putting aside the fulfillment of the brief; the main purposes of the house were two: The first one was to integrate it to the territory of this part of the city where the presence of the Andes Mountain is extremely strong both visually and tectonically. Therefore the presence of the Andes was considered as an obvious background worst to be highlighted and also as a sloped ground needed to be negotiated.

Linhares Dias House, Brasília, Brazil – 19 Sep 2013Design: Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho, Matheus Secophoto : Joana França
This house is located in a residential area site close to the Paranoa Lake. The various spaces are not expressed but instead contianed within a big roof and two dominant ‘bookend’ walls. The roof and side walls protect the outdoor space which flows freely into the house.

CH house, Tel Aviv, Israel – 19 Sep 2013Design: Domb architectsphoto : Amit Geron
A house in the periphery of Tel Aviv. The design is clean and very limited in architectural elements. Basic finish materials: white plaster, iron and glass. The old house served the family while raising children. Now, when the children left home, it is home for the couple and serves for hosting the family and the grandchildren.

House in Nuglar, Solothurn, Switzerland – 11 Sep 2013Design: HHFphoto : Tom Bisig
House D is oriented parallel to the landscape, thereby making the view a matter of prime importance. Across more than 180 degrees, you gaze over unbuilt, verdant land with mature fruit trees. HHF radically exploits this situation, thematizes it, and accentuates it even more with a few simple moves: The main level is an open space – with the kitchen as well as dining and living areas – and alongside a concrete core, the stair to the upper and lower floors. The space is entirely glazed and blends seamlessly with the space outdoors. The outdoor space itself is an oversized terrace. No more but also no less.

Zagorje Cottage, Kumrovec, Krapina-Zagorje County, northern Croatia – 9 Sep 2013Design: PROARHphoto : Damir Fabijanic
The pre-existing traditional Zagorje cottage is situated on the green slopes near Kumrovec and was structurally and statically in poor condition. It was renovated taking into consideration the characteristics of local heritage and design. The pre-existing house form is kept, while the porch is substituted with a glass cube. To give the cottage southern exposure, the glass form is slided out of the main house volume, simultaneously forming an entrance area. Interaction of interior and exterior spaces is enabled by opening of the glass walls.

Downley House, England – 5 Sep 2013Design: Birds Portchmouth Russum Architectsphoto : Nick Kane
This large private house is a tour de force in a technicolour architectural style that derives from that of James Stirling, from whose practice these architects emerged. This means that it is an assemblage of strong primary forms, mostly cylinders and cubes. The entire structure, including the curved elements, is of cross-laminated timber.

Rockmount Residence, Wirral, England – 5 Sep 2013Design: ShedKMphoto from architect
The site is an extraordinary elevated mound with views towards the setting sun across the River Dee to the North Wales coast. Shed KM’s ingenious response is a new take on a classic modern linear house plan.

Folding House, England – 5 Sep 2013Design: AR Design Studioimage : AR Design Studio
Hampshire based modern architects, AR Design Studio have designed a highly contemporary dream home for a retired client and his son. Showcasing stunning river views from all three levels, the folding design incorporates a blend of indoor and outdoor living spaces that extend out into the landscape and beyond. Inspired by the site context and defining character, the intention is to minimise the impact on the location and surrounding scenery by embedding the structure in its setting.

House in La Floresta, Catalonia, Spain – 3 Sep 2013Design: Alventosa Morell Arquitectesphoto : Alventosa Morell Arquitectes
This Project springs up after some previous conversations with the owner of the site, who shares our concern about the exhaustion of the sources of fossil energies, and also the need of being more respectful with our immediate environment. This house is located in the chain of Collserola mountains, which is the Nature Reserve of Barcelona. This building site, situated in the south side of a small hill, is a piece of ground that the family have been taken a great care over it; and that thanks to its thick vegetation has a unique microclimate where is very easy to relax and forget the stress of the big city and its metropolitan area.

Residence in Southlands, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – 24 Aug 2013Architect: DIALOGphotograph : Kristopher Grunert
This residence nestles into a mature, heavily vegetated corner site in Vancouver’s historical Dunbar-Southlands neighborhood. A year-round fresh water stream divides the irregularly shaped property as it threads its way below Marine Drive to the south. The lush basin resulting from long-standing environmental forces sets the stage for a dramatic and highly contextual architectural response. The residence spans the riparian environment and sets up a circulation sequence that culminates in a grand south facing outdoor ‘room’ on the water’s edge.

New House Designs – Top Global Selection

Major residences designed in the last two decades – included here for their innovative design rather than say a connection to famous people or stunning location.